Cellino told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “You expect that a first-team coach will be under contract, but I didn’t expect that an Under-21 coach would cost a lot of money to take.

“In Italy things are different. I’m learning about the English game still.

“The money is something you have to think about. This coach, I enquired about him but we will see. I’m back in England soon and before choosing a coach, I had to close the sale of Cagliari. That is done now.”

(Image: Getty)

Reading make no apology for their tough stance and director of football, Nicky Hammond, says they do not want to lose Dolan.

Speaking on Tuesday, he said: “Reading are aware of the interest of another Championship club in our academy manager Eamonn Dolan.

“Eamonn is an integral part of our club and is under contract to Reading. We do not welcome any approaches from any club for our key staff. We hope this is the end of the matter.”

Cellino could turn to former Forest Green Rovers boss Dave Hockaday if he cannot break the impasse with Reading over Dolan.

“I’ve said more than once that I want a British coach and that’s what Leeds will get,” said Cellino. “I know what I want to do and I won’t make the wrong choice.

“People say that I play with Leeds but now that I’ve closed the deal for Cagliari, Leeds are my future. I won’t make mistakes.”